Fire-escape



(No Model.)

J. BOWER. FIRE ESGAPE.

No. 474,155. Patented May 3,1892.

lNVENTOHL:

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY 6 we "cams van-ms c0, mrmrumm, msumar-m, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB BOVVER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,155, dated May 3, 1892- Application filed August 6, 1891. Serial No.401.834=. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, JACOB BOWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, Essex county, and State of New Jersey, have i11- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a portable fire-escape, simple and economical in construction, quickly and readily adapted for use, automatic in operation, and equally applicable for use by children as well as adults, not liable to get out of order, and can be conveniently carried by any person travcling from place to place.

The invention consistsintheimprovedfireescape and the combination and arrangement of the various parts thereof, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved fire-escape with the cap removed, showing the arrangement of the rope. Fig. 2 is an inner edge view. Fig. 3 is a front plan view show-.

ing it in position when a person is suspended; and Fig. 4: is a section on line 00, Fig. 3.

In said drawings, a indicates an angular body or frame of a fire-escape with central lug or projection b and end lugs c d, as shown in Fig. 1. The centrallug b is provided with acurved channel or groove 6 and the end' lugs with straight channels or grooves f g and in line, respectively, with the outer ends of the curved channel 6, the channel f being formed near the inner edge of the lugs c on the lower end of the body and the channel g near the outer edge of the lug d on the upper end of the body, as shown in Fig. 1. These channels f and g are nearly at right angles with each other. Projecting upward from the lugs c d and close to the inner edges of the channels in said lugs are pins h it. From the central lug Z) also extends upward a pin 2', located close to the inner edge of its channel. The outer side of the channel fis V- shaped, as shown in dotted lines at m, Fig. 1, while the inner side of the channel 9 is V-shaped,

as shown at n. The outer side of the curved channel 6 is also V-shaped, as shown at 0, Figs. 1 3411(145 In these channels is arranged and adjusted a rope 13, upon which the fireescape is adapted to slide.

Upon the top of the frame and resting upon the top surface of the lugs is arranged a re movable cover 1', as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, provided with holes through which the pins in the lugs can pass, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Upon the top of the cover and pivoted in an annular groove in the upper part of the pin 71, Fig. 4, is a locking-plate t, the central socket of said plate being elongated, as shown at a, Fig. 3, to receive the enlarged flattened end of the pin. The end portions of this looking-plate are made of sufficient length so that when the locking-plate is in the position shown in Fig. 3 the ends shall rest in sockets on the inner sides of the pins h h, as shown in that figure. The locking-plate is provided with finger-pieces Q) to facilitate its removal.

Extending outward from the frame and in a line with the lower portion thereof is an arm w, provided at its outer end with a hole 20, adapted to receive a hook or catch 3 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3,) carrying a belt-banrl or anyother device for securing the person to the fire-escape.

The ends of the lock-plate are angled in 0pposite directions for the purpose of firmly securing them in the slots in the pins.

The operation of this device is as follows: One end of a rope is first secured to the inside or outside of the building, as may be most convenient. The locking-plate is then turned around on the central pin until the flattened end of the pin can pass through the slot in the locking-plate. The locking-plate and cover can then be removed. The fire-escape being now held in the position shown in Fig. 1, the rope is then inserted in the chan nels in the body above described and the cover and locking-plate put in position. The device is now ready for instant use. The person to be assisted, having previously secured to his body the belt or other contrivance, the hook is then snapped into the hole in the end of the arm to, and the person begins to descend. The weight on thearm will cause thebod y of the fire-escape to turn downward, causing the rope to bind in the V-edges of the channels, thus preventing any rapid passage of the fire-escape over the rope, but yet not bind the rope sufficiently to entirely stop the passage of the fire-escape. pended from the arm, the fire-escape will assume very nearly theposition shown in Fig. 3. The descent is gradual and continuous and there is not great shock upon reaching the ground.

Two or more of my improved fire-escapes can be employed at the same time on the same rope, provided the rope employed be of sufficient strength.

If greater strength is required, the body can be made solid with one continuous slot therethrough, the fire-escape in that case bein g continually attached to the rope; but for general use I have found the form shown to be sulficient. I

By the use of my fire-escape the free end of he rope can be led or held in any position or j have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of 'May, 1891.

from a building, and thus a person can he landed at any point and at any speed desired, according as the rope is held tight or loose.

Having thus described myinve11tion,wl1atI j claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

If a very heavy weight is sus- 1. The improved fire-escape herein shown and described, consisting of a body provided with channels with a V-shaped side, the outer portions of said channels being nearly at right angles with each other and their V sides in opposite position and adapted to receive a rope, a cover, a locking-plate pivoted to said body and securing the cover thereon, and a suspending-arm made integral with said body, all said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. An improved fire-escape consisting of a body a, provided with a central lug I), having a curved channel 6 with inner V-shaped side, two outer lugs c d integral with body a, each of said outer lugs beingprovided with a channel with one V-shaped side, said channel being arranged at about right angles to each other and having their V sides in opposite positions, a cover r, a locking-plate t, adjustably pivoted to body a and securing the cover thereon, a suspending-arm made integral with said body, and a rope adapted to pass through the various channels, all said parts being arranged ;and adapted to operate substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I JACOB BOWER.

\Vitnesses:

E. L. SHERMAN, WALTER THOMPSON. 

